The primary duty of a registered nurse is to care for patients. Registered nurses may provide this care in a variety of settings, such as general hospitals, physicians' offices or patients' homes. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 5 percent of the nation's RNs work in nursing homes. Each environment presents its own challenges, but certain factors can be disadvantages for registered nurses working in nursing homes.

Work Hours

Although state laws vary on the staffing requirements for nursing homes, most states require at least one registered nurse to be on duty at all times. Like hospitals, nursing homes operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. To meet legal staffing requirements, nursing homes may require RNs to work nights, holidays and weekends. Some nursing homes schedule RNs for 12-hour shifts, and if the nurse scheduled to work the next shift fails to show, the on-duty nurse may have to work overtime.

Pay

Registered nurses who work for nursing homes tend to earn less than those working for other major employers. The national average salary for registered nurses was $65,470 per year in 2012, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. RNs averaged $71,200 at outpatient care centers; $69,490 at general hospitals; $65,530 as home health nurses; and $62,120 in physician offices. In contrast, RNs employed by nursing homes averaged $61,220 annually.

Typical Patient Base

Typical nursing home patients are those whose conditions are too severe to allow them to live independently, but not severe enough to require hospitalization. Many patients are chronically ill, have suffered a debilitating permanent injury or need assistance with their personal needs. Patients may resent having to surrender their independence and become depressed or uncooperative. Family members may be difficult to deal with when they visit, questioning the care their loved ones are receiving. All this can sometimes generate emotional stress for the nursing staff.

Physical Stress

Registered nurses must endure the physical demands of the job, regardless of setting. They are often on their feet for most of a shift, either walking or standing. In a nursing home, physical demands typically increase, because many patients require assistance when walking or leaving their beds. Nurses may need to help patients into and out of wheelchairs, showers or armchairs. Although nursing aides may handle some of these duties, staffing issues may require an RN to help lift patients at times.

About Registered Nurses

Although you can become a registered nurse with just an associate degree or diploma, many employers prefer candidates with a bachelor's degree in nursing, according to the BLS. It predicts a 26-percent increase in employment for registered nurses through 2020 and notes that the trend to discharge patients from hospitals as soon as possible may create an increased number of patients in nursing homes and other extended-care facilities.

About the Author

Jeffrey Joyner has had numerous articles published on the Internet covering a wide range of topics. He studied electrical engineering after a tour of duty in the military, then became a freelance computer programmer for several years before settling on a career as a writer.